FINCHforum

Hello Fellow Finchers.

Well, to all those who had their doubts about my little water melon (officially now known as 'Merlin' ) not liking his bath.... take a look at this water logged bird.

He took a look at the bath and basically did a cannon ball into the water. There he sat for long minutes, just soaking his little butt, and then the splashing started. He splashed and he splashed, untill there was water everywhere, and then he dplashed some more.... I thought he was never coming out of there. After all of the water aerobics, he sat under the warming light, happily preening his water melon feathers untill
he was nicely fluffed and dry.

Right at the moment, he's discovering that he really really likes soaked sprouted wheat and red Swiss chard.

I think my little boy is happy

He's so colorful! I really like him

lovezebs

He gets to have a bit of fun now!! So much better than being locked away in the back of a pet store!

Babs

I get the feeling that Merlin, is a true optemist. He believes in enjoying life to the outmost.

You should have seen him with his first mealworm I swear he was drooling. He was a bird in paradise. And eggs, he was Inhaling them like there was no tomorrow.

lovezebs

I love the name Merlin btw. Hes got to feel like he is in birdy heaven!
It must have been ages since his last bath! Ohhh those feathers feel so GOOD right now!

Kelly & Babs

Thanks Kelly, he is a pretty boy (my little watermelon darling).

I like the name Merlin too, it just came to me the other day on the Forum here. No idea when he had his last bath, but he sure enjoyed this one .

Smurf

Hi Padraic.

A quick question.
Will two male Parrot Finches and two females live peacefully together in a flight, or will there be issues between the boys?
They are not bonded pairs, although one of the males, was housed with the two girls before (and was extremely rough with both).

Also, if a pied male and normal female breed, will I get a 50/50 % normal/pied, with the kids? Or normals who will be split to pied?

Thanks

lovezebs - So sweet!

Love the name Merlin too! So fitting!

I LOVE watching animals who've been deprived discover the little joys in life. It's so special to watch them discovering and enjoying these little things - like baths and good food - especially knowing that they wouldn't have those things if you'd not taken action!

I've kept PFs together in groups of 4 and they did great, as they're not a super dominant species. But the dominance of the one male you mentioned would make me a tad nervous. But you can always try it. There's no harm in giving them some time together to see how they do.

I honestly don't recall if my guys had a nest in there. My guess is they probably didn't, as I never bred them. So not really sure how they'd do in a "colony breeding" setting.

I've done a fair bit of colony breeding and I've found that as long as the couples are harmonious and well bonded before you add a nest, they're just fine once the nest is added in there.

As for the genetics question, not positive, as I've never bred PFs. So not sure on that one! Definitely a Padraic question!

I've never tried sprouted wheat! How long do you let it sit to sprout? Just overnight? Or does it need more/less time??

lovezebs

Merlin looks extremely happy after his bath! I have to go buy meal worms today for my parrot finches.

slwatson

They love those wigglers.
Just have to watch that they don't overdo it and get very fat.

lovezebs

How many should I feed an adult pair? Would it be every day, or once or twice a week?

slwatson

I would offer just two or three each once a week or as a special treat. Keep the rest in the fridge, so that they won't turn into big ugly beatles
I put them in a foraging/play Tupperware container (Mia's idea....the box, not the worms).

Take a container, add some Timothy hay, some wild seed heads, some bits of grass (not sprayed with anything) , some spray millet crumbles, a hanful of seed mix, a few little twigs, a few meal worms and give it a little shake.

Offer it to the kids. They'll have loads of fun, hunting and foraging.

MiaCarter

The wheat took approximately a couple of days (give or take) to start popping visually. My eyes aren't that great, so it actually might have chitted earlier but I couldn't make it out.

I made too much though, and had to throw some of it outside, as it started going a bit sour. So if you make it, do it in small batches, unless you want it to start fermenting, or whatever it is that it does.

lovezebs

Thanks for the suggestion! I bought the mealworms last night, so I'll make up their little box today when I get home

slwatson

I think they'll have great fun, and you as well , sitting back a and watching them.